NCR too has it share of speed maniacs

Stunt-biking on expressways and city roads is as rampant in the NCR towns of Noida and Gurgaon as in the national capital.

Soon after dusk, roads such as DND toll road, Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, the Yamuna Expressway and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway turn into a playground for the rich, young brats who want to show off their powerful rides.

With almost negligible police presence on these roads to enforce traffic rules, these speed maniacs race freely, performing stunts on their bikes.

The bikers who take to these roads in groups during late night pose a safety risk for normal commuters plying during late hours. Accidents are reported frequently with most casualties being young people. Usually armed with nothing but a fancy, powerful bike, most of the bikers don't even wear any safety gear such as knee pads, ankle guards, biking shoes, jacket and gloves. Thus, injuries are often fatal.

The absence of proper medical/trauma facilities in the vicinity increases the risk in the event of an accident.

A Noida police officer said the bikers often have organised groups. He said they keep changing the timings as well as specific spots where they choose to race or perform stunts, keeping the cops on their toes.

On March 31, 2008, 23-year-old Gurpreet Singh was arrested for rash and negligent driving after he rode his bike on the rear wheel for 12km on the Greater Noida expressway.

A Gurgaon traffic police said most of these bikers run their vehicles in excess of 150km/hr speed or run them on a single wheel for long distances. On July 25, 2008, an 18-year-old Vasant Kunj resident was charred to death on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway when his speeding bike caught fire after it rammed a truck laden with LPG cyclinders. He was on a joyride to Jaipur.

Police said the government should change the policy suitably for the import and use of such high-end bikes, ensuring that the user must have prior experience in handling them and checking his safety record.